GWR Part 2

Just a bit more on the GWR yesterday!  It was good fun and I learnt a lot from Dominic Lane's commentary as he judged.  I think the board at the back with samples of fleece Dominic had handed round was a good touch as it gave a chance to really view the fleece.

Andy wielded his Nanette with vigour at the start of the show (a strange thing with a weird aroma which Andy replaced carefully in it's box after each flourish) and was thanked profusely for his efforts by the judge at the end.  Dominic Lane was his usual suave self and coped with the two minor hiccups which occurred with excellent humour.

 I heard good reports on the yarn side of the show and saw the samples which were superb - but, sadly, I missed the actual judging due to needing to drink and sit down because of my feet (Carl said my sandals were too disreputable so I suffered all day in socks and shoes).  The heat meant we were flagging by the boxes by the end of the day but despite this clearing up went swiftly.

We were very pleased with our wins - a first for Lily, the suri, a first and white colour champion for Alf and (really exciting) a third for Little Star (Bert's baby - the bottle fed) and a first for Dylan (the brown).  I was going to put Alf's sash on him  but he has had a bad day and has ended up in solitary confinement.  His fighting has been getting worse since he started matings.  He used to fight Harry and Dylan but they didn't fight back much - Harry is a pacifist and Dylan is a lover not a fighter - but today he turned on Greeves.  Greeves looks cute and cuddly and smaller than  the others but he does not back down if anyone picks on him.  Alf is bigger and stronger and it was getting nasty with Alf on top of Greeves and shrieking from both of them.  This was stirring Dude up who was trying to beat the fence down with his front legs so enough was enough and Alf is now sulking and pacing!

The GWR Show

I  am tired and my feet hurt - but it has been a good day!  Today was the Great Western Region Alpaca Fleece and Yarn Show.  We were very busy with boxes and only managed brief conversations with people but I think they enjoyed themselves.  I will write properly tomorrow and tell you about the Supreme Champions (and our 4 rosettes!) but for today here are just a few photos before I go and eat crumpets!

Carl demonstrating the length of Lily's staples to Carol who does not look impressed



Part of the wall of fleece



Ashton Lane's stall with Irene and my stand at the back



Carol looking  very excitable - whether due to holding the fabulous supreme champion trophy , because Carl was poking her with the Nanette or due to something Dominic Lane had just said (he was remarkable) I am unsure!

The audience paying close attention


More news tomorrow!!

All is Calm!!

Despite this having been the most stressful time of my entire life - my joy now overfloweth!

My P problem was sorted to my immense joy and the immense shock of the postman who will probably never call again.  It was then a dash to The Standerwick Centre for the setting up of the GWR show.   The car was stifling so I made use of the air con which Carl has finally said can be used and agreed it does not use up more fuel than when having the windows open - something to do with air resistance - (Honest John gave me the ammunition for that one). Carl had gone on first while I waited for my P solution - most was done by the time I got there and the quality of the fleece on display is stunning - it makes my poor little fleeces look very sad!  I couldn't look closely at anything as it is all boxed up but there seem to be a startling amount of lovely greys, looking forward to seeing them.  The yarn is also fantastic - particularly impressive array of blacks and l some beautiful hand spun.  In the end I didn't get any hand spun good enough and having seen the quality I am incredibly glad I didn't enter anything - there are some fabulous hand spinners out there.  Everyone was working incredibly hard when I arrived.

We then had a phone call about another of the day's stresses and the die is now cast for further developments!  What exactly will happen next in our lives is a little unsure at the moment but a great wave of relief has settled over us and the future looks - - - interesting!  Now I must sort out extra water for the animals for tomorrow as they almost ran out today with the searing hat, find clothes for the show and then relax!

GWR show meeting and a surprise visit

Nice sunny weather today which the alpacas have all appreciated.  But, according to the Shepherd, we now need warm rain for the grass to grow.  And, as you can see from the background to this picture of Barnaby Rudge cuddling up to Alf, we need grass growth!


We had a meeting of the GWR show committee this afternoon and that went very smoothly.  There is an addition to the show this year which I think is very exciting - when it is revealed I hope others do as well.  In addition to this development, the Champions are all getting sashes as well as the Supreme Champions so I need to make a phone call to the Rosette Company next week to sort that out.  It was good to meet up with everyone again and it feels good to be part of such a friendly and hard working team.  Before we left we had to have a little guided tour of the Wellground herd  - particularly as our eyes were drawn to the Gorgeous Geff and his posings!  A little rummage in a very lovely brown fleece and then  we had to go.

Back home to feeding and a surprise visit from The Vampire Vet and his colleague who was visiting from far flung lands - they had a tour of the alpacas and sheep and we had an interesting conversation on plasma.  Luckily they were not a little earlier or they would have caught me in the middle of my halter training - we are going to have to get out of the pen soon as it is all getting a bit of a crush!

Now I am afraid the rest of the evening is going to be a battle as Sam has English Homework and I have already made him redo it twice!